Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford apologised on Sunday to fans for his blunder that handed Liverpool a 1-0 victory in the Merseyside derby at Anfield but said he is mentally strong enough to bounce back.

The England international misjudged a looping, miskicked shot from Virgil Van Dijk, appearing to push the ball upwards before it bounced on top of the bar and into the path of Divock Origi, who had a simple task to head into the open net.

Pickford apologised for his blunder but gave a different version of events.

“The ball spun and as I tried to flick it over, my hand hit the bar,” he said. “I think it is the Everton luck when we come to Anfield.

“It’s not something you can learn and train and get better from. It’s just a freak incident. You move on and get better.

“There is always a case as a goalkeeper… if you make an error it will lead to a goal. Unfortunately, it has been me today.”

It was a harsh end to a derby in which both Pickford and his opposite number Alisson Becker had produced good saves to keep their rivals at bay.

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